Family and Education

b. 25 Oct. 1766, 2nd s. of Sir Edward Dering^†, 6th Bt., of Surrenden Dering, nr. Ashford, Kent by 2nd w. Deborah, da. of John Winchester, surgeon, of Nethersole, Kent. m. 9 June 1789, Charlotte Elizabeth, da. of Sir Joseph Yates, j.c.p., 1s.

Offices Held

Maj.-commdt. New Romney fencible cav. 1794, col. 1795.

Biography

After serving in Ireland during the rebellion of 1798 with his regiment of fencibles, Dering devoted much of his time to the management of the Kent estates of his great-nephew Sir Edward Cholmeley Dering, 8th Bt., who succeeded to his title in 1811 when only three years old; a task in which it was recorded that ‘he showed the same excellent judgment and superior ability, for which he was on all occasions most distinguished’.1 His duties involved the management of the Dering interest at New Romney, which the family normally made available to nominees or supporters of administration. In October 1817, following the death of one of the sitting Members, who had been returned in 1812 as a nominee of the 2nd Duke of Northumberland, Dering complained to Lord Liverpool that without his consent the Treasury and (Sir) John McMahon* had by a previous arrangement agreed to dispose of the vacant seat to another Northumberland nominee, thereby violating the terms of the original transaction. He went on:

I am thoroughly convinced that your lordship is incapable of having entered into this attack upon me. I am truly sensible of your lordship’s kindness towards me, and great liberality as to the requisites for the person returned, and as to whom he should be, after I had made the offer to your lordship. As far as is in my power you may rely upon my political support, but allow me to say, that in future it is to your lordship only I shall apply with a view to follow and forward your wishes, and that these circumstances must prevent it having any connexion with the Duke of Northumberland. I feel unsafe with a man who in these cases commits himself to agents; in your lordship’s hands I put myself with confidence.2

Dering returned himself for the vacancy. His only recorded votes were with government on the Scottish prosecutions, 10 Feb., and the additional grant to the Duke of Clarence, 15 Apr. 1818, and he is not known to have spoken in the House.

At the general election of 1818 he returned two supporters of administration and by September 1819 clearly had no wish to return to Parliament, as he applied unsuccessfully to Liverpool for the joint receivership of Kent held by Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Bt., who was about to contest the county:

At my time of life, and with my reduced powers of exertion, it is one of the few situations which I could fill satisfactorily and as it is one of great respectability in the county it would be peculiarly valuable to me. I can indeed candidly add that its income would be most welcome.3

He died 7 Nov. 1836.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: J. M. Collinge

Notes

• 1. MI in F. Haslewood, Gen. Mem. Dering Fam. 23.
• 2. Add. 38268, f. 276.
• 3. Add. 38279, f. 359.